Life, Liberty and High-Speed Internet

By: Nataliya Ioffe - 07-29-2010 - (1) Comments - Interactive

The Most Wired Nation Gets Even More Wired
As of this month, Finland has become the first nation in the world to make broadband Internet access a basic human right. Thanks to a legal mandate, every Finnish home will have and enjoy high speed Internet access by 2015. Laura Vilkkonen, Finland’s legislative counselor for the Ministry of Transport and Communications, explains, “We think it’s something you cannot live without in modern society. Like banking services or water or electricity, you need Internet connection.”

The Internet – Is It Really Fundamental?
Is the Internet so important that you would be willing to accept it as a basic human right? Has the use of the Internet become so ubiquitous that it is now considered fundamental? I have mixed feelings on the subject. On one hand I would argue to say that in any country, the ability to access the Internet (broadband or not) gives any citizen a major advantage over others who don’t have the same opportunity. The Internet as a resource for information is an invaluable commodity – just imagine if you didn’t have it at your fingertips! On the other hand, while I believe the Internet is important to have… I’m not quite sure if it’s as important as water or electricity. Up until this point I’ve always considered the Internet as more of a luxury or a privilege to have. Now, I suppose I’m on the fence.

Are We Next?
It sounds so extreme to legally mandate high-speed Internet access as a basic human right… but maybe that’s what we all have to look forward to. I wouldn’t mind having universal access to broadband. I’m sure people and businesses in rural areas would appreciate it as well. Perhaps a legal mandate is the best way to go about connecting the globe. If so, kudos to Finland for laying down the stepping-stones.

About the Author:

Nataliya Ioffe

Nataliya Ioffe is the newest member of the Okay Yellow team. She is currently serving as an intern for the summer and is developing her skills as a graphic and web designer. In the fall she will continue her education at James Madison University and will graduate with a degree in media arts in design in the spring. Her interests in the field include design, online marketing, and new media. Away from the computer, Nataliya enjoys spending time with her family in South-Western Virginia. She travels as much as she can and enjoys learning about culture, politics, and religion. She also has a mild obsession with beagles, movies, and Earl Grey tea.

See all my articles

Comments:

This is silly. There is no basic right associated with the internet and the very thought that a government would view it this way is the ultimate step in socialism. I noticed that Nataliya enjoys beagles, movies, and Earl Grey tea…may they should also be made universally available and be classified as a that basic human right.